Never afraid to poke fun at himself as well as others, Lee Trevino was once asked what three things an ageing golfer losers. “His nerve, his memory....and I can’t remember the third one,” replied the wise-cracking Mexican.
Fortunately for the protagonists involved in the Scandic Carlsberg Scandinavian Masters, it will be a long time before they have to worry about such afflictions. Indeed, while the Barsebäck clubhouse often resembled a crèche as several players brought their young families with them, the leaderboard had a similarly youthful feel to it.
This was no accident however, but a result of the commendable policy of the tournament organisers to invite some of the brightest new stars in the golfing firmament, such as Luke Donald, Kevin Na and Zane Scotland, to Malmo to compete alongside the cream of the existing young talent on The European Tour.
They had no cause to regret the decision as Nick Dougherty, Adam Scott and Donald battled for the title on the final day, with teenagers Charl Schwartzel and Na also signalling their ability to follow in their footsteps.
In the end it was Scott who held the trophy aloft to the adulation of the huge crowds but the 23 year old knew his fourth European Tour International Schedule victory had been a hard fought one on a tough course likened to a US Open Championship venue by third round joint leader Maarten Lafeber.
Dougherty was the first of the young guns to fire, the 21 year old sleeping for 18 hours before his excellent opening round 67 to share the lead with Andrew Coltart and David Gilford, the lengthy lie-in a side-effect of his battle to recover from a bout of glandular fever. Even Dougherty, though, is a relative veteran compared to Korean teenager Na, who was only one shot behind after a 68, the 19 year old still travelling everywhere with his father Yong, who doubles as his caddie, and his mother Annie.
Na, however, could not even lay claim to being the youngest player in the field, that honour going to Schwartzel, the highlight of the 18 year old South African’s week being a third round 69 which helped him to a share of 16th place overall.
Add in the likes of 22 year old Julien Clement and 21 year old Scotland, both of whom completed all four rounds, it was understandable why former Ryder Cup Captain Mark James felt somewhat out of place as he shared second place at halfway stage at the ripe old age of 49.
The man James and the others chased into the weekend was Nick Faldo protégé Dougherty, who had carded a second round 69 to lead by three shots from three players and by five from Scott. But the Australian was growing in confidence with every round, the hard work put in on the putting green finally paying off as he negotiated the week without a single three putt.
His long game was not too shabby either, the player nicknamed ‘Swivel Hips’ by his idol and friend Greg Norman needing just 67 blows on Saturday to wipe out the deficit and share the lead with Lafeber going into the last round.
It was a final day which reunited the 2001 Walker Cup partners Donald and Dougherty in the second to last pairing, drawing as many admiring glances from the young ladies in the crowd as the golfing aficionados.
But it was ultimately a final day which belonged to Scott despite briefly losing the lead as Dougherty made a flying start. Having regrouped, the Australian reasserted his authority with birdies on the 11th and 12th to eventually ease to a two shot victory over the young Englishman.
Dougherty looked set for a share of second with Robert Karlsson, Coltart and Donald but a bold birdie putt from 15 feet on the final hole saw him punch the air with delight as he knew the runners-up spot was his alone. With it, of course, came the knowledge he had secured his playing privileges for the 2004 season.
People like Adam Scott will be there, too. The future of The European Tour is indeed a bright one.
Phil Casey
